Alex Flores Citizen of theYear, businesses
SP Community Bank, California Resources, Fria

March 04, 2015
Santa Paula News

Alex Flores has already been recognized for what he does for the youth of Santa Paula but what he does for the community overall has now garnered him the 2014 Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year honor.

Flores, the director of the Santa Paula High School Agricultural Academy and Future Farmers of America advisor, will be honored March 18 at the Limoneira Ranch Visitors Center. 

Also being recognized are Large Businesses of the Year California Resource Corporation and the hometown Santa Paula Community Bank and Small Business Fria. Familia Diaz will be honored with the Sam Edwards Lifetime Community Achievement Award for their almost 80s years of service to the community and Citizens for a Safer Santa Paula, which will receive the Community Service Award for their effort to better public safety through a sales tax measure.

Tickets are only $40 each for the luncheon where Mayor John Procter will also offer the State of the City Address. 

Flores was honored by the Chamber in 2011 as Educator of the Year but his widespread community efforts with the FFA as well as independently has shown his devotion to the betterment of Santa Paula. In 2012 he was selected by SPHS students as the Grand Marshal of the Homecoming Parade.

A SPHS teacher for about 16 years, Flores has gotten his Agricultural Academy and FFA students involved in numerous projects and programs from actively assisting at the annual Moonlight at the Ranch celebration benefiting the Santa Paula Police & Fire Foundation to working with students and the Topa Topa Flywheelers to restore an antique tractor. 

His seemingly endless energy level when it comes to his students includes not only teaching and advising the FFA, but also taking part in parades, helping at the annual Ventura County Fair — where Santa Paula children and youth always win top prizes in the animal categories — and constantly striving to ensure students have all they need to pursue and complete their studies.

Flores has also been active with America in Bloom to beautify Santa Paula, a community effort that led to the local AIB chapter being entered in a national competition.

“He teaches the students community involvement, that wherever there is a need they can help fill it and that improving the community overall is their obligation and final goal,” noted one of several letters sent to the chamber nominating Flores for the honor.

Others noted: “He teaches the kids to look you right in the eye,” a simple gesture that does wonders for not only their self-confidence but also in gaining the confidence of those his students encounters.

And, “Alex has a wonderful can-do attitude, high level of enthusiasm and deep belief in all he encounters,” and benefit from his always optimistic view and trademark smile.

Tickets (only $40 each) for the Chamber Awards luncheon —held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — are available at the Chamber of Commerce office located at the historic Depot (corner of North 10th and East Santa Barbara streets) or at the Santa Paula Times, 120 Davis St. 

For more information, call the chamber at 805-525-5561.

 





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